Your pumpkins and gourds are probably still sitting pretty on your front step, or maybe your jack-o-lantern is starting to go funky. When you are ready to dispose of your fall decor, use one of these eco-friendly local options instead of chucking them in the trash:
Cook Them!Â
All squash and pumpkins are edible and delicious! They all keep well in a cool place, some for months – remember that Native Americans developed many varieties across the country and stored them for the winter, as did the colonists who followed. More varieties were developed in other countries around the world. Baker’s Creek Seeds offers almost 48 varieties of winter squash! Here is a tutorial on how to process pumpkins. Are those big ones too big and awkward to cut? Just go outside and throw them down on a hard surface, this will break them up into more manageable sized pieces.
- Storage: While the ideal temp is only 55º or so, I’ve kept them in my kitchen and cool attic for months. You can also just cook ahead and freeze. (read more)
- Recipe ideas: soups, stews, puree, smoothies, pies, custards, crackers, even Chef Kelly’s pumpkin muffins with streusel topping
- Check out our Winter Squash handout for nutrition facts and more information
Drop Them Off at the Local Farm
Many will take it for their animals (chickens, goats, pigs, cows and horses all love them!) or for their compost piles. Make sure to check with your farmer first; certified organic farmers have to be very strict with what they feed their animals and add to their compost. Here are a few farms that we know are accepting pumpkins:
- Down to Earth Farm: 4380 Wismer Rd, Doylestown 18902
- Morgan Creek Farms: 2565 Tollgate Rd, Quakertown PA 18951Â Â
- Private residence 3933 Burnt House Hill Rd, Doylestown PA 18902 – leave on the pallet in the overgrown lawn
- Ross Mill Farm: 2464 Walton Rd, Jamison, PA 18929
- Tussock Sedge Farm: 1239 Souderton Rd (Rte 113), Perkasie, PA 18944..
Feed to your dogs
Squash and pumpkins are also good for dogs, once cooked they can be added in small amounts to dogs’ food. You can add puree (but make sure to keep it plain, no butter, salt, or seasonings needed) to their food or feed them pieces as a treat (without skin and seeds).
Compost
Squash make great additions to post compost piles, plus you may get bonus squashes growing next year!
- Add to your compost pile
- Check out a compost service such as BCS Compost or Kona Compost
Want to take a deep dive into the history of pumpkins? Read our interview with a pumpkin!
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We hope your pumpkins can live another life as food for yourself, animals or making new soil for next year. How will you dispose of your pumpkins this year?
If you’re planning to cook with them, it’s best to use organic pumpkins (grow them yourself, if possible) and choose the Long Island Cheese variety or small sugar pumpkins made for cooking. It’s probably easier to use butternut squash to cook with. It makes great pumpkin breads and pies.